Menu
Looking for a job in Columbia, Missouri? The technology sector would not be a bad place to start! More than just a college town, the home of the University of Missouri and the fourth largest city in the state has seen an explosion in firms looking for highly-skilled workers. From tech titans to the scrappiest startups, industry demand for coding experts, web and app developers, data scientists and more are expected to rise as innovative organizations continue to take notice of Columbia.
So how can you take advantage of this hiring boom and level up your career? One increasingly popular option is to enroll in a skills-based bootcamp. Bootcamps in the Columbia area, specializing in fields like coding, cybersecurity and data analytics offer an opportunity to learn critical skills quickly and network and learn from local and international industry experts. Bootcamp participants in Columbia can look forward to exciting internship and job opportunities and taking the first step towards a whole new professional journey in just a few months or less.
The job outlook for bootcamp graduates in Columbia is excellent and expected to scale up alongside industry demand. The number of jobs created by tech startups in the region has increased significantly, accounting for more than 7,500 from 2014 to 2018 according to MOSourceLink’s “Show Me Jobs” report. One of Columbia’s homegrown success stories is Veterans United Home Loans, which has quickly scaled to be a national leader in the space with more than 3,500 employees. The company, which still maintains headquarters in Columbia, has been named a Great Place to Work for the past five years and is actively hiring in the tech space for roles in UX/UI design and data analysis. For Columbia, growth begets growth, as Veterans United has spawned additional companies, like SuretyBonds.com, which ranks as the number one agency in the space in the U.S. Other companies with national name-brand recognition that established roots in Columbia include EquipmentShare and Newsy.
A number of startups invested in diverse areas have flourished in Columbia, supported by its’ highly educated and young workforce and thriving business community. Quarkworks is a software development agency that has brought a Silicon Valley vibe to the city as it has quickly scaled from its humble two-person origins ten years ago. Zapier has helped small businesses innovate for an online future with its automation software and Healium, the inventor of a cutting edge virtual and augmented reality platform powered by consumer wearables, has recently partnered with T-Mobile and the U.S. Air Force to bring its services and technology nationwide. These businesses and more are supported by nonprofits and partnerships like the Missouri Innovation Center, which provides mentorship, physical incubator and accelerator programs to companies on the rise. A yearly startup weekend also helps firms looking to gain their footing and hire in the area. While it can’t compete with major metropolitans on size, bootcamp participants in Columbia have numerous choices in combining the “hard skills” they learn in data science, management, or development to their passions in entrepreneurship, next-gen tech and more.
Columbia, Missouri is known for its high quality of living, combined with lower than average housing costs and was even named a “Top 50 Best Place to Live” by CBSNews. We’ve compiled a list of the average salaries for technology jobs in the city from Indeed.com. Roles with growing demand average salaries of more than $80,000/year and might see that reflected in compensation or additional cash bonuses.
| Career Field | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Designer | $83,914 |
| Data Analyst | $60,839 |
| Java Programmer | $93,978 |
| Back-end Developer | $88,074 |
| Full Stack Developer | $71,725 |
| Software Engineer | $83,456 |
| IT Security Specialist | $61,490 |
| Software Developer | $78,212 |
